Friday, March 29, 2024

The unblocking of Swedish aid to Zambia a show of confidence in Lungu’s governance says PF youths

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President Edgar Lungu during the Church Service at St Daniels in Solwezi
President Edgar Lungu during the Church Service at St Daniels in Solwezi

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Lusaka province chairperson Kennedy Kamba said the unblocking of US$ 47,3 million donor fund to Zambia by the Swedish Government is a show of confidence in President Edgar Lungu’s governance system.
Mr Kamba said in an interview that the move is a clear demonstration that the donors are happy with President Lungu’s governance and fight against corruption.

“With the coming of Lungu, the fund has been unblocked, this is a clear demonstration that the international community has confidence in President Lungu,” he said.

Mr Kamba said the money will help in upgrading the Matero and Chilenje health centres into first level hospitals. He added that the money will also help complete the 650 health posts that the Government is constructing countrywide.

Meanwhile, Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) has commended the Swedish Government for unblocking US $47,3 million meant for projects that will reduce the number of deaths among babies and mothers, including tackling other reproductive health challenges.

TALC national director Felix Mwanza said it is however, regrettable that in this day and urge healthcare in Zambia is mainly financed through foreign aid.

“We urge government to allocate substantial resources to the health sector because foreign aid is not sustainable.”

“We call upon the Sweden Government to keep a close eye on how the funding will be used by the Zambian Government because we do not want a repeat of what happened in 2009 following the misapplication of funds in the middle of a five-year agreement (2006-10) for the health sector. The misapplication of funds was an unfortunate development which affected delivery of quality healthcare services to citizens especially in rural parts of Zambia,” he said.

He added that the change of heart by the Swedish Government is an indication that they are happy with remedial measures and systems that have been put in place by the Zambian Government to forestall such.

“However, we want to put it on record that as important as this financial support may be, it is not sustainable and our Government must find means and ways of financing our health systems including increasing its budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Mr Mwanza continued in a statement;

“It is saddening that the government has still failed to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15 percent of the total national budget to the Ministry of Health.

An increase in budgetary allocation to 15 percent and even above coupled with proper utilization of these resources will go a long way in improving the health service delivery in our country.

Surely, we should not wait for funds to be unblocked by “good Samaritans” for us to have specimen bottles for blood to collect blood samples, reagents, test kits and other amenities that are needed at the maternity wards for our women to have dignified deliveries.”

8 COMMENTS

  1. There is the illegal immigration of people from Africa to Europe and so what these guys are doing is to make sure some countries in Africa develop so that instead of illegal immigrants going to very far Europe, they just cross a border and enter another African country. Look at how Congolese like to enter Zambia and get illegal NRCs

    • “Ministry have since invited members of the public to submit proposals for tax and non-tax revenue policy for the 2016 budget.

      The consultation period which ends on July 31 2015 ha been set to ensure that all citizens including youths, women groups and the private sector participate in the formulation of the 2016 Budget and the 2016 to 2018 (MTF).”

      Folks tell, me, did the PF consult or listen to the members of the public when it enacted the budget that removed subsidies and allowed it to borrow and spend recklessly on induced by elections?

      Why does PF want the public to be involved now that PF has depleted all the government ‘s coffers?

      I think if PF wants the public to be involved, then, it should

      1. Reduce no. of ministers by a third,
      2. Reduce no. of deputy…

    • 3. Reduce no. envoys abroad and just leave major ones.
      4. Cut politician’s allowances
      5. Stop single sourcing because it breeds corruption.

      What economic value and productivity do these small created districts with their numerous DC and their subordinates add to the Zambian economy apart from being a drain to borrowed money thats is supposed to be used to complete construction projects , revamp our main hospitals schools and universities? Zero

      What economic value and productivity do these numerous deputy ministers(over 90) add to the Zambian economy apart from drawing hefty salaries and allowances out of borrowed.

      Is PF prepared to listen to some these recommendation I think the numerous stake holders government wants to consult will come up with?

      Well lets wait and see if…

  2. So Kamba already knows where this Swedish money is going! These cadres sure, even allocating it to infrastructure/constructions so that they can get contracts with their briefcase companies.

  3. If a leader is good, nobody always needs to justify it because his actions will speak for themselves. Lungu is a useless leader and that is why his cadres always need to justify that he is not a useless leader.

  4. This Fontinee kamba is even proud for the country to rely on handouts for basic necessities. Tell us about kambwili stealing council land also the $25 million airport theft and also $12 million was allocated for boreholes in W providence when half of that was enough. PF is up to their necks in looting of funds that they don’t even bother denying and El tells them to be careful next time

  5. these PF ‘youths’ what ever this is supposed to mean. how dumb can you be fostering the enrichment of others at your own expense, amazing how foolish some people can be. Shibukeni?

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